Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera delivered his State of the City Address today at the Chamber of Commerce…and, the House Armed Services Committee, which includes Colorado Republican Doug Lamborn, held a hearing today on a care-taking scandal at Arlington National Cemetery.

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A panel examining options for the future of Memorial Hospital had a huge turnout for last night’s meeting (Gazette).

In Pueblo, owners of the medical marijuana dispensary, MediMar Ministries, will challenge a cease-and-desist order today from the city (Chieftain).

Disclaimer: KRCC and KRCC News make no guarantees regarding the content within these reports, however consider them part of the news and media outlets reporting on issues affecting our coverage area. The Index is not exhaustive, and is not an endorsement of any kind.

The state of Colorado has delayed medicaid payments to area health agencies (Trindad Times).

The Fremont County School Board will vote next month on whether to pass random drug tests for students (KRDO).

In Pueblo, a no vote on medical marijuana dispensaries at the latest city council meeting has left some angry (KRDO, Chieftain). Jim Montoya has withdrawn from the treasurer race in Las Animas County (Trinidad Times).

Disclaimer: KRCC and KRCC News make no guarantees regarding the content within these reports, however consider them part of the news and media outlets reporting on issues affecting our coverage area. The Index is not exhaustive, and is not an endorsement of any kind.

Lawmakers at the statehouse are in recess until next January, but campaign season is already in full swing. Republicans are hoping to regain control of the state legislature, and are focusing on several key races. One of the seats in play is currently held by the legislature’s only unaffiliated lawmaker, who left the Democratic party late last year. A district court judge ruled last week that her name will not appear on the ballot this fall. Bente Birkeland has more from the state capitol.

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Rocky Mountain National Park remains open despite a wildfire burning in a heavily wooded portion of the park…In southern Colorado, a 5,540-acre fire continues to burn in the Great Sand Dunes National Park…Crews have contained a 630-acre wildfire near the Royal Gorge Park that burned a home and damaged others…and, Governors from Western states say new transmission lines are critical to developing alternative energy.

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Parkland Canyon fire is over 85% contained now (KOAA, Chieftain).

Unemployment benefits legislation has died in Washington and will affect many state citizens (Chieftain).

In Colorado Springs city officials say contracted lawn crews will begin limited maintenance on street medians soon (Business Journal).

A bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Family Farm Estate Tax Relief Act of 2010, would exempt in-use farmland and ranches from a reinstated estate tax if authorized (Trinidad Times).

Disclaimer: KRCC and KRCC News make no guarantees regarding the content within these reports, however consider them part of the news and media outlets reporting on issues affecting our coverage area. The Index is not exhaustive, and is not an endorsement of any kind.

School may be out for the summer but the movement to lower childhood obesity rates, and get children to exercise and eat well is gaining momentum nationally and across Colorado. Advocates for healthier school lunches and farm to school programs say a shift in national policy is causing slow but significant changes in how schools and the public think about food. But as Bente Birkeland found, there’s still a long ways to go.

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In Colorado Springs, District 11 has passed its budget for next year and it includes teachers and staff cuts (KRDO).

In Pueblo, the CSU Board of Governors has approved a maximum 9% tuition hike for the CSU-Pueblo campus (Chieftain).

Disclaimer: KRCC and KRCC News make no guarantees regarding the content within these reports, however consider them part of the news and media outlets reporting on issues affecting our coverage area. The Index is not exhaustive, and is not an endorsement of any kind.

Now that the state has decided to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries, it’s up to local communities to navigate the new law and figure out whether marijuana centers should be allowed, and if so how. But many expect the new policy to lead to a patchwork of city and county laws across the state. Bente Birkeland examines how one mountain region is grappling with the issue.

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The Medano Fire has consumed nearly 5000 acres in the Great Sand Dunes National Park about 25 miles northeast of Alamosa. Fire managers there are using strategic planning and risk assessment to protect people and private property in that area. They held a community meeting in the nearby town of Gardner last night. KRCC’s Shanna Lewis was there and filed this report.

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We’ve received an update on the Parkdale Canyon Fire since Shanna completed this report. Officials say weather conditions in the area were favorable today and fire crews made progress. Evacuations are still in place for the Royal View Campground and all areas west of County Road 61 and south of Highway 50 to the Arkansas River. Residents and businesses west of Highway 9 and north of Highway 50 are no longer on a “soft evacuation” notice, and residents east of County Road 61 can return to their homes and businesses. The Arkansas River will reopen to boaters tomorrow.